Singlespeed & Fixed Gear"I still feel that variable gears are only for people over forty-five.
Isn't it better to triumph by the strength of your muscles than by the artifice of a derailer? We are getting soft...As for me, give me a fixed gear!"-- Henri Desgrange (31 January 1865 - 16 August 1940)

So this thread isn't exactly about fixed gear bikes, but I figure this cycling demographic has the most experience with messenger bags. I just need something pretty big for hauling stuff around. My backpack just isn't cutting it anymore, I need a lot more room.

Of course, browsing around everything seems so expensive. I dont need anything fancy. just big. I've been keeping an eye on the Seagull black bag. 125 seems pretty damn reasonable compared to other bags. I searched and it looks like the general consensus is that this bag is great. Just one questiion though, does the black bag have a smaller compartment big enough to fit 8.5 x 11 notebooks?

If anybody has any suggestions about similarily sized bags between 100-200 dollars please post up. At this point, I'm 99% sure I'm going to get a black bag, but since i'll be dropping that much money on a bag, I want to make sure that there aren't any options i've overlooked. Thanks.

I used to have one of those backpacks. Very cool and comfy as hell while walking around, but not great on the bike and not enough carrying capacity for me. I'm still pissed about losing it though because it was badass and looked like a Storm Trooper pack because it was a white one.

I have a Seagull Black Bag medium size and it is awesome. Its just one big compartment, with a smaller pocket in the inside and a larger pocket on the outside. I use the bag usually for commuting, carrying books/laptop, staying places overnight, and the occasional larger load. If your looking for carrying lots of stuff, don't be afraid of getting the larger bad. The med bag is really best for studenty type stuff, nothing too crazy just books and some clothes. It's a very solid bag though and I like the strapping system.

I've always used Timbuk2 bags and love them. The medium one I've had forever is really ratty and I had been wanting a bigger one so my wife custom ordered a large rasta-colored one to put under the xmas tree. I was stoked. I was even more stoked when a couple of days ago I came home to find that another one - exactly the same - had been delivered. Confused, my wife called them and they told her that they accidentally made and shipped two, that she was only charged for one and that we could keep the second one.

I've always used Timbuk2 bags and love them. The medium one I've had forever is really ratty and I had been wanting a bigger one so my wife custom ordered a large rasta-colored one to put under the xmas tree. I was stoked. I was even more stoked when a couple of days ago I came home to find that another one - exactly the same - had been delivered. Confused, my wife called them and they told her that they accidentally made and shipped two, that she was only charged for one and that we could keep the second one.

The black bag is awesome. I use a medium for school and it's more than enough to carry all my books and supplies. It's very roomy. The whole thing is still looking new after months of use.
Although if you're really organized, you might want a custom bag for all separated sections and doohickeys (not to mention custom designs, color, etc).
But on a budget, the black bag is totally worth it, everything is durable and comfortable. Highly recommended!